New Addition to our Family!

A strange thing happens in our life now and then. Students find us.

The latest one to find us is Bobby. He is from China and will be going to high school here. He emailed us before the summer to see if we'd have a room, and we do. He seems like a really nice boy. Today I picked him up at a house that his mother and aunt are renting. They're here to help get him settled. He seems pretty confident and excited about being here. His mother and his aunt came to our house and helped him unpack and get all organized. She also wanted to take the bus from here to his school so she could see exactly how he'll get to school.

I can't imagine sending my son to China to go to school. Must be a little heart breaking. We will take good care of him though! I think he will fit in well with our family!

First Day Back!

I love summer.
I really love summer.

I really love going back too.

Today was my first day back at school. It is surprising how nervous I always feel. You'd think I'd start getting the hang of this. I still have the butterflies. Although, I have less butterflies on the first day back with teachers than I do on the day I meet my new students! That is for sure.

I realized something the other day. These students likely would have been Destiny's classmates and friends. She would have been going into grade 3 this year. These are the kids she'd have play dates with and go to birthday parties with. They will hold a special place in my heart.

Big Hill Springs Park

Today after church we headed out of town for Big Hill Springs Park. Apparently, a lot of other people had the same idea. There were a lot of people and dogs there - and we were glad to be there with them. It is so beautiful! We basked in the sun, enjoyed all the dogs and watching the kids play in the water. Such a beautiful place to spend a Sunday afternoon!

Tomorrow it is back to school for me! As usual, summer has gone by all too quickly. I wonder how many more days there are until fall break?!  :)

Freezer Meals

One thing I live about going back to school is how it forces me to get a little more organized.

I have been making freezer meals this week. A while ago, I got a copy of The Big Cook. It has been a great source of inspiration. This week I made four meals each of two recipes from that book: BBQ beef and Canton Chicken. That means two nights of the week for the next four weeks I am already started on dinner! Love that.

Tonight we had spaghetti so I decided to make some more freezer meals. We made enough spaghetti sauce for tonight and three more meals. Peirce opened all the cans and dumped them in (10 cans total!) Jill diced up mushrooms while I browned the beef. With everyone helping, I don't think it took much more time than it would have taken me to make dinner just for tonight. 

I like to put them in ziploc bags because they take very little space in the freezer and there is no messing around with faulty non air-tight containers.

We even had enough hamburger browned up to put aside for another night when we want hamburger with/in something. 

My plan is to do this every week. If I put four meals in the freezer each week I should be able to stay ahead of the game pretty well. 

Yea for menu planning! It makes my life so much better!

Party Time!

Jill decided to have a party tonight. On the agenda was laser tag and cake. I got to be the tag along.

One of the great things about teenagers, they can make their own cake! They even plan their own party.

Harry Potter style cake.

What to do with that extra icing? What to do. What to do.

The gang starts to arrive. I noticed the crowd was decidedly more male than female. Hmmm...

Peirce and Zane playing for the championship of the entire free world.

Sometimes the best part is just hanging out. We stayed until they were ready to lock the doors.

Puzzling Peirce

Recently, Peirce has a puzzle fettish. I think it started by hanging out with his six year old cousin, Davida. Today he hit the jackpot! Hours of entertainment!

Ultimate Frisbee

This year Jill started playing a new sport: Ultimate frisbee! She is even in an ultimate frisbee league. She calls that night her character building night. Why? It builds character to play a game and never win. The team is made up of a bunch of swimming friends. Some people say swimmers aren't good at land sports. Maybe they're right. They do know how to have fun though!

This was my view tonight. I stayed in the car.

That's Jill in the pink pants.

I'm a fair weather fan. 

It rained and was cold!

Slip N Slide Kick Ball

Tonight for the youth activity the kids played Slip N Slide baseball. So fun!

Summer 2015

I'm I had great plans to blog all summer long. I missed a couple events and meant to catch up. Then another, then another. Now I am so behind!! Here is my attempt at a summer recap:

We started off with Provincials/Senior Champs. Jill and. Went to Edmonton. A couple of times I have gone and marked PATs while Jill swam, but they got rid of Gr. 3 PATs, so now I just go and watch swimming. I also read and rest. It is a wonderful and simple week. She actually swam until July 24 this year. She was really ready for a break when the time came (and so were the parents!)

This is at the last meet of the year for Jill...the UCSC Wrap Up. See that girl in the grey hoodie? That's Jill deck-changing. That is one of her unique talents.

From: http://www.boysandgirlsclubsofcalgary.ca/programs/education-employment/calgary-stampede-work-experience

While we are in Edmonton, Peirce started work at the Stampede. This was his second year. He is such a trooper. He works hard and makes good friends and loves it. He is very motivated by money and loves being able to have a way to earn some.

Jill had a great time at camp this year. She was a camp leader. There were just two of them that were over 16 along with a swarm of 12 year olds. She really enjoys those girls.

 

Allen and I took a trip to Atlanta for the Primerica Convention....just the two of us!

This summer Jill got a job! She is working at a breakfast place and really having a good time. She has also been a fan of breakfast places. Her best friend got a job there so Jill applied too and was thrilled to get a job too.

Jill has also been working on English. She did CALM online this year and is finishing up grade 11 English. It takes a lot of time!

Peirce spent a lot of time with cousins.

I have been doing a lot of reading as well as housework this summer. 

Peirce did his first triathlon!

We re-finished Grandma's deck on the long weekend in August and got to watch Neil in a ball tournament. His team won on a double play pulled off by Neil on second base tagging out the runner then throwing it to first. Very exciting. I even got to be an announcer for a few of the games!

My friend, Carma and her husband happened to be in town. There are moving to Southern Alberta after years in the states! It was fun to visit with them.

Work. Work. Working.

Neil played second base.

They won every game. The last few were close games. In the last game they were behind. They got ahead by one run and on the final play Neil put together a double-play. It was very exciting!

Champs with the banner. Fun tournament!

Happy Birthday Jill!!

When they produce the movie of Jill's life, critics will say the character of Jill was too unrealistic. No one is that fun and positive and kind.

They will be wrong. 

Jill went out for breakfast with her friends this morning. 

Later we went for lunch to a very fancy patio:

Tonight Allen and Jill went to a movie together, one of their favourite things to do.

She is just one all round fun girl. We sure do love her. 

When she was little, she learned to put her hand on the side of her face to show she was being soooo cute. 

Emma posted this pic in Facebook. Must be a birthday party. Too funny.

Jill and Auntie Gaylene. Jill is her favourite niece. Well, her only niece!

Nicky Manaj?

Allen has an eclectic taste in music. One of his favourites is Nicki Manaj. Frankly, if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't even know who she was.

We got an email that some people had cancelled out of their volunteer spots. He has never been willing to do any of the Flames volunteering. Apparently, this is different.

I tend to think her music is best without the stage performance. Riské!!

Scout Camp!

Peirce has Scout Camp this week. I think I'd like this tinfoil dinner!

All packed and ready to go!

They're canoeing into the camp at Jewel Lake. I'm sure they will have a GREAT time!!

Carter S, Kevin Fleming, Brennan T, Nolan, Riley D, Dave Sherlock, Peirce

Cousin Fun

Peirce had a lot of fun with cousins this summer.

head Smashed in Buffalo Jump

He enjoys playing with all his cousins, no matter their age.

Hiking

They did a triathlon!